Search - Heartbreakers :: What Goes Around

Hell and Thunders, so alone together

M. Bromberg | Atlanta, GA United States | 02/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The fact that Richard Hell and Johnny Thunders shared a stage in 1975 makes this album indispensable for any fan of New York rock. The sound isn't that great, but these thirteen performances are the "big bang" of the whole scene that followed the demise of the New York Dolls (Johnny's "Pirate Love") and Hell's departure from Television (a major part of his first album "Blank Generation" gets worked out here). Lucky someone had a tape-recorder for these two dates -- this lineup was bound to self-destruct for all kinds of reasons. An historic document."

Thunders, Hell, Nolan, Lure: the Early Months

M. Bromberg | 02/17/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A nice artifact: the early Heartbreakers with Richard Hell. For LAMFers, this is a must to fill the collection. For neophytes, well, come back to this when you've had some experience. The sound quality isn't so good, and the band was still teething, yet there is always Jerry Nolan to push things along, as well as Hell's weird charisma and Johnny's two-string sorcery--all in all a splendid find. Hearing Richard Hell sing "Can't Keep My Eyes On You" and Johnny harmonizing on Hell's stuff are an experience. Also, a freshly-broken-hearted-from-Sable-Starr version of "Stepping Stone" make this well worth the price."

What Goes Around....

Morton | Colorado | 03/27/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers-What Goes Around...***1/2





We all know that songs here are classics, and by all I mean those reading this because no one would look at Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers unless they were some form of a fan. But the songs being classic is not the issue to this album, this is a live album so the rating can only be determined by the quality of the performances. That being said this is the original line up of The Heartbreakers, not the line up that would record the classic album L.A.M.F. This is way before that, when the great Richard Hell was in the band. He is the one in the center of the cover.



With the exception of 'So Alone' 'Pirate Love' and the Hell classic 'Love Comes In Spurts' all of which were recorded November 16, 1975, the rest of the tracks were recorded live at CBGB July 7, 1975. This was one of Hell's last shows with the band and not one of his best.



Many of the lyrics are no audible, and the same can be said for the bass and guitar, now Jerry Nolan's drums come in loud and clear. The over all performances on the album are not that great with the exception of 'Blank Generation' 'I Wanna Be Loved' which is a bonus on the original recording. Those two are great but the rest of the album could have been much better.



So why is this worth money if even at all? Well because this for collectors is essential. It shows the band at a very early stage, showing the development of all the songs as they would appear on The Heartbreakers L.A.M.F. and Hell's Blank Generation. This is essential for a curious fan even though it isn't the strongest performance."